Bengal video editor arrested for links with cybercrime gang

Bhubaneswar:

The crime branch on Monday arrested a video editor from West Bengal’s Nadia district for his alleged link with a cybercrime gang that swindled a businessman from Jajpur of Rs 1.08 crore through fake online cricket betting platforms.The accused was identified as Sugata Majumder (29) from Sukantapally village in Nadia district. His arrest followed the interrogation of two men, who were earlier arrested in May in connection with the cyber fraud. Majumder is a graduate in zoology and works as a freelance video editor. He reportedly designed the fraudulent online gaming apps and helped cyber criminals dupe unsuspecting investors. Some mobile phones, SIMs, and hard disks were seized from him.The gang allegedly operated the fraudulent gaming platforms and multiple phishing websites to lure victims with promises of substantial profits. According to investigators, the 34-year-old victim, a businessman from the Kalinga Nagar area of Jajpur district, invested Rs 1.65 crore in two online cricket betting platforms between Aug 2022 and Jan 2025. While he received returns of about Rs 57 lakh in multiple instalments, he ultimately suffered a net loss of Rs 1.08 crore.

“Despite incurring initial losses, the victim was persuaded to invest further. However, when he attempted to withdraw his funds, the scammers demanded additional payments and refused to release his money,” a crime branch official said. Following a detailed analysis of bank transactions and other digital evidence, the crime branch arrested the accused.The fraud was uncovered when the victim lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police station under the crime branch on May 1.

The subsequent investigation revealed that significant sums were funnelled into accounts managed by several fraudsters, who connived with Majumder to create sophisticated fake betting platforms to deceive investors.The crime branch has urged the public to verify the authenticity of online platforms before making any investments and to report any suspicious activities immediately. The police authorities have also highlighted a rise in similar betting frauds, noting two recent suicides linked to such crimes in Balasore and Kendrapada districts.